as in to brace
to prepare (oneself) mentally or emotionally
I have to psych myself up before every swimming competition
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in soul
an immaterial force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power
disturbing, enigmatic paintings that seem to embody the psyche of this brilliant but troubled artist
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mind
the part of a person that feels, thinks, perceives, wills, and especially reasons
a novel that explores the psyche of a depressed teen
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Recent Examples of psych (up)
E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
His father exists in the world, floundering about and getting high, but the larger and more potent existence that this man has, in your case, is in your stepson’s psyche.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
Rocktober 2007 is burned into my psyche.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
If Michael Jackson moonwalked so that Prince could show us the face of God with his brain-melting 2007 set, the NFL’s reaction to Fox’s inspired bit of devilry set the stage for the league’s eventual takeover of the American psyche.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Noun
What did sudden fame do to your psyche?
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
His father exists in the world, floundering about and getting high, but the larger and more potent existence that this man has, in your case, is in your stepson’s psyche.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
Rocktober 2007 is burned into my psyche.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
If Michael Jackson moonwalked so that Prince could show us the face of God with his brain-melting 2007 set, the NFL’s reaction to Fox’s inspired bit of devilry set the stage for the league’s eventual takeover of the American psyche.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for psych (up)
Recent Examples of Synonyms for psych (up)
Verb
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Local farmers and businesses in Wisconsin are bracing for impact as funding for the state's federal food assistance program is set to run out by November.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, which soar to 7,500 feet and receive nearly 200 inches of rain annually, are bracing for up to 40 inches of rainfall from Hurricane Melissa over just a few days.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Pat McGrath is so etched in my soul, my heart, and my vision for what is considered beauty and glamour.—
Tracee Ellis Ross,
Glamour,
27 Oct. 2025
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The team won the sweepstakes for superstar free agent Juan Soto by offering a record-setting contract, and while Soto performed well, the Mets missed the playoffs and have some real soul searching to do.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Familial pairs choose the experimental merge for a variety of reasons, including a mother with Alzheimer’s linking her mind with her daughter; teenage brothers, one terminally ill; a man and his pregnant fiancée; a father and his addict daughter.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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In Hoyer’s mind, the Tokyo Series represented the culmination of the organization’s long-running efforts to establish connections in Nippon Professional Baseball, highlight the Cubs as a brand overseas and turn Chicago into a destination for Japanese players.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Today, scientists are still studying its properties, and the high priests of the antisugar brigade are still condemning it, while its romantic and even erotic reputation remains well fortified by Valentine’s Day.—
Aleksandra Crapanzano,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, the All’s Fair actress and soon-to-be-attorney has been quietly fortifying her Hidden Hills compound.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Chinese officials saw the new rules as a violation of the spirit of their September trade talks in Madrid.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In the Isan region of Thailand, an ancestral spirit named Ba Yan has been worshiped by villagers for generations.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Introverts’ brains are more responsive to dopamine, requiring much less of it to trigger a big response.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
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How Zurzuvae works to help combat postpartum depression Zurzuvae enhances the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that sends signals in the brain to calm nerve activity, Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, a toxicologist at MedStar Health, tells SELF.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier this year, Allweiss says one of her clients was readying to make a big announcement pegged to sustainability, but the political climate briefly paused plans.—
Bella Webb,
Vogue,
30 Oct. 2025
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Do something relaxing to ready your mind and body for sleep, like reading a book or meditating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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His body was found with four shots to the back and head in November 1990 in Dixie County.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
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That was also Payton’s first season as an NFL head coach in New Orleans.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Psych (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/psych%20%28up%29. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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